The AAMC April 2 submitted comments to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in response to a request for information (RFI) on the agency’s first Strategic Plan for Data Science. The RFI states that data science is an “integral component of modern biomedical research” and defines it as “the interdisciplinary field of inquiry in which quantitative and analytical approaches, processes, and systems are developed and used to extract knowledge and insights from increasingly large and/or complex sets of data.”
In its letter, the AAMC expresses its support for the primary components of the draft plan, including the modernization of biomedical data infrastructure, tools and resources, enhanced workforce development, and appropriate policies to promote stewardship and sustainability. The AAMC also recommends that the NIH work with the extramural research community during the strategic planning process, and ensure the use of robust evaluation measures while implementing this plan.